GWR the Badminton Line: A Portrait of a Railway
By the turn of the century the now legendary GWR was ready, in its own indomitable style, to meet the challenges and grasp the opportunities presented by the new era. Despite the set-backs incurred as a result of the 'gauge war', the GWR faced the opening of the twentieth century with a programme of major engineering works worthy of its Victorian heyday.
Arguably the most important of these developments was the construction of the new main line to South Wales, connecting with the recently completed Severn tunnel. It was intended that the new route should provide a fast, direct link to the rapidly expanding Welsh coalfields, as well as opening up the port of Milford Haven as a gateway to transatlantic liner traffic. A new line from Wootton Bassett to Patchway, the 'Badminton lint', running along the southern fringes of the Cotswolds, was built as part of the new route. It was completed in true Brunel tradition against huge natural obstacles and in appalling weather conditions.
Here for the first time is a full account of the construction of one of the G.W.R.'s main lines, fully illustrated with unique contemporary photographs, plans, layouts and costings. Written by Kevin Robertson, author of Leader: Steam's Last Chance and other railway books, this book provides not only a record of those early years of enterprise and achievement, but also chronicles the changes wrought over the years as a consequence of outside influences.
Hardback with dust jacket, 234 pages, black & white photographs, drawings
Condition: Very Good
ISBN: 9780862994594
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Updated: 29 December 2022